3. Spurs (5): No Jefferson, no Jackson, no Ginobili, no Splitter (2nd half) ….. no need; Friday win at OKC was grittiest of entire season.

4. Thunder (2): Panic in OKC: It took more than a month for them to lose first four games of season; they’re 6-4 since All-Star break, with first two-game home losing streak.

5. Lakers (8): Worst part of losing co-captain Derek Fisher for Kobe Bryant? Now he’ll have to go to halfcourt for pre-game meeting with referees.

6. Magic (6): Who’s the unsung hero who convinced Dwight Howard to opt in, not out? Club CEO Alex Martins, who started out in media relations department.

7. Grizzlies (4): The good news: Zach Randolph scored 25 in first game back in lineup. The bad news: Even with Z-Bo they fell to Raptors.

8. Mavericks (13): Both Lamar Odom and wife Khloe Kardashian booed loudly at American Airlines Center on Friday ….. and that was at a Dallas Stars hockey game.

9. Clippers (7): They’re being penalized a couple spots for keeping media waiting outside locker room for an hour for team meeting after choking away 17-point lead on to Suns on Thursday. Hey, we’ve got deadlines!

10. Nuggets (10): If George Karl thought he had problems with temperamental Melo, wait until he gets a load of JaVale McGee. At least McGee plays, even with dings, which Nene rarely did.

The rest

11. Celtics (9)

12. Bucks (21)

13. 76ers (11)

14. Rockets (16)

15. Pacers (12)

16. Hawks (15)

17. Knicks (14)

18. Suns (19)

19. Jazz (18)

20. Timberwolves (17)

21. Trail Blazers (22)

22. Pistons (23)

23. Cavaliers (20)

24. Raptors (25)

25. Warriors (24)

26. Nets (26)

27. Kings (28)

28. Hornets (27)

29. Wizards (29)

30. Bobcats (30)

The Baseline

Roster tinkering didn’t end with Thursday’s trade deadline

Playoff-bound teams, and a few hoping to get in the postseason tournament, will seek to add players who have been or will be bought out of their contracts before Friday, the day after which waived players no longer will be eligible for another team’s playoff roster.

Often, players thrown into trades to make them fit under salary cap rules are waived by their new teams, as Jason Kapono (Cavs) learned. A few more traded players are apt to be waived this week, including Derek Fisher (Rockets), Brian Cook (Wizards) and Ronny Turiaf (Nuggets).

Teams that know their seasons won’t extend to the playoffs also get into the waiver business, usually to clear salaries. Already, Raptors point guard Anthony Carter has been cut free.

Don’t be surprised if the Spurs, who cleared a roster spot and shed salary by including T.J. Ford in their trade deadline deal, become buyers on the waiver wire.